around a fifth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "around a fifth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate fraction or percentage, typically in contexts involving statistics or measurements. Example: "Around a fifth of the participants reported feeling more energized after the workshop."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The average weekly rent was between two and four shillings (around a fifth of the average wages at the time).

Wikipedia

Naval intervention disrupts around a fifth of the attacks.

The Economist

From 2016 that will probably fall to around a fifth.

Independent

Between them they use around a fifth of Germany's power.

The Economist

Demand increases by around a fifth every year.

The Economist

Mothers make up around a fifth of the workforce.

Independent

NME's circulation was falling by around a fifth annually.

The Guardian

Half were indifferent to her, while around a fifth said they viewed her unfavourably.

Independent

Only around a fifth of Easters - a movable feast- fall in March.

Independent

Typically, around a fifth gain asylum and another sixth are given "exceptional leave to remain".

The Economist

The biggest, Samsung, accounts for around a fifth of the country's exports.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a broad audience, consider if using "approximately 20 percent" instead of "around a fifth" would improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid presenting data using the phrase "around a fifth" when more precise figures are available. Using approximations when accuracy is possible undermines credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around a fifth" functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating an approximate fraction or proportion. This usage aligns with the Ludwig examples, where it describes quantities ranging from portions of a population to financial amounts. The Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

29%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "around a fifth" is a common and grammatically correct way to express an approximate quantity, equivalent to about 20 percent. As indicated by Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly news, media, and business, though less suited for strict scientific or formal academic contexts, where more precise figures are preferred. While "around a fifth" is versatile, clarity is essential, and consider swapping "around a fifth" with something like "approximately 20 percent" or "roughly one-fifth" for some use cases. Ludwig examples show it appearing frequently in both news articles and scientific publications, indicating a wide range of applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately 20 percent

Replaces the fractional expression with a percentage, providing a more precise numerical value.

roughly one-fifth

Substitutes "around" with "roughly", maintaining the approximate nature of the quantity.

in the vicinity of 20%

Uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate an approximate percentage.

about one-fifth

Replaces "around" with "about", offering a slightly more casual tone.

in the neighborhood of 20 percent

Employs a less formal expression to convey approximation.

close to 20 percent

Indicates that the actual value is near 20% without being exact.

nearly one-fifth

Suggests the quantity is just below one-fifth.

just about a fifth

Adds a slight emphasis to the approximation.

something like a fifth

Uses a more colloquial expression to indicate an estimate.

a fifth or so

Positions "a fifth" as the primary estimate with a qualifier indicating approximation.

FAQs

How can I use "around a fifth" in a sentence?

You can use "around a fifth" to describe an approximate portion or percentage of something. For example, "Around a fifth of the students failed the exam."

What is a more formal way to say "around a fifth"?

A more formal way to say "around a fifth" is "approximately 20 percent" or "roughly one-fifth".

Is it appropriate to use "around a fifth" in academic writing?

While "around a fifth" is generally acceptable, using a more precise term like "approximately 20 percent" or "one-fifth" may be preferred in academic writing for greater accuracy.

What alternatives can I use instead of "around a fifth"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately 20 percent", "roughly one-fifth", or "about 20 percent" depending on the context.